When police knock on doors, it is seldom good news for those inside. I know; I knocked on doors. Easter 1981, NYC Transit Police Officer William Martin enjoyed dinner with his family. […]
Minesweepers of the Subway
Subway Guards to Police Professionals
Following my essays, you know my dad patrolled New York subways from 1931 to 1965. I was a Transit cop from 1966 to 1992. In researching those olden, but not-so-golden days, I […]
A Bullet’s Impact
The bullet hit the brass button on officer Melchiona’s hat—driving that button into his brain. PBA delegate Henry Melchiona sat in Donovan’s Pub with Brother Transit cops Joe Corcoran and Patty McDonald. […]
Life’s Ride: Horribly Scary to Incredibly Happy
Lou Hollander is a caring, sensitive man who experiences joy and pain intensely. Speaking with Lou for this essay, one thinks of a ride on undulating tracks—sometimes on the dark subways, sometimes […]
Sex Beneath the Surface.
It’s been ten years since Feb 2015 when I published this essay on my sunny side blog, Leebythesea. I thought I’d republish it here as well since it is more appropriate for […]
Incoming Mortar—Outgoing Purpose
The mortar round blew Bob Valentino off Mother Earth, and when he landed, blood spurted from his leg. Bob, a twenty-two-year-old infantry squad leader, was atop a hill in Vietnam. It was […]
Blood and Brotherhood
When the bloodied and ashen cop walked onto the train, the passengers screamed. She had eight months on the job, a cop working her subterranean beat…under the city of New York. Very […]
Fields of Concrete and Tile
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” Orhan Pamuk We all love to see dogs run in fields, run through tall grass and flowers, over hills and […]
The Dash…of Life
The train’s motorman released the control handle, hydraulic brakes froze the wheels but the train hurtled on. Tombstones carry a dash between date of birth and date of death: Jan 1, 1955-Feb […]
Subway Savvy
They had me fooled…a little bit. I had them fooled…a lot. Recent news reports speak of the dangers of sleeping in the subway. There were comments in the newspapers, radio and TV […]
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